In Ohio, Bucyrus Public Library partners with United Way of North Central Ohio to deliver early childhood and outreach programming to local families and preschools. Together they developed programs, materials, and outreach that extended library services into local schools and community settings.

The partnership began from humble beginnings when the library and United Way connected around 2012 over shared interest in early literacy and family support. The initial work focused on bringing visits and early learning resources to preschools and local community partners so families who could not come to the library could still access programming.

Over time the collaboration has expanded into a sustained grant-supported effort. The partners have coordinated resources, applied for joint funding, and systematized visits to local preschools and schools so that the program now reaches more children across the area.

Reported impacts include broader reach into preschool settings, increased family engagement with early literacy activities, and a more visible library presence in community institutions. The partnership has allowed the library to borrow items and materials for outreach and to establish stronger referral pathways between service providers.

Internationally, this partnership is notable because it shows how a small public library and a regional United Way can co-design outreach that shifts services beyond the building — a replicable model for libraries worldwide seeking to increase equitable access to early learning.

Partnership story updated January 9, 2026. This vignette is part of a collection of stories celebrating public library partnerships created to encourage more partnerships between public libraries and a wide-range of partners.